Swedish authorities have boarded a sanctioned Russian cargo vessel after it anchored in national waters off the country’s southwest coast following an engine failure.
The inspection began after the ship, Adler, stopped near the town of Höganäs, prompting a coordinated response from multiple Swedish agencies.
Officials said the operation was carried out overnight and remains ongoing as customs officers examine the ship and its cargo.
The vessel’s owners are listed under European Union sanctions, according to Sweden’s customs service.
Authorities have declined to disclose any findings while the inspection continues.
Sweden’s customs service said the Adler was boarded shortly after 0100 local time with support from the Swedish Coast Guard and police.
“Shortly after 0100 last night we boarded the ship with support from the Swedish Coast Guard and the police service in order to make a customs inspection,” said customs spokesman Martin Hoglund.
He added that the inspection was still ongoing and declined to provide further details.
The Adler is a 126-metre roll-on, roll-off container carrier, according to ship-tracking service Marine Traffic.
The vessel had departed the Russian port of St Petersburg on December 15.
Customs officials said they did not have information about the ship’s intended destination.
The operation also involved Sweden’s National Task Force, security services, and prosecutors, according to authorities.
In addition to EU sanctions, the Adler and its owner, M Leasing LLC, are also subject to United States sanctions.
OpenSanctions has linked the vessel and its owners to suspected involvement in weapons transport.
The ship has previously drawn attention from European authorities.
In January 2021, Greek forces boarded the Adler in the Mediterranean under the EU’s Operation Irini.
That mission was tasked with monitoring compliance with the United Nations arms embargo on Libya.
Swedish officials said the current boarding was prompted by mechanical trouble rather than intelligence-led interception.
The crew was reported to be cooperative during the inspection.
Authorities have not indicated how long the vessel will remain anchored in Swedish waters.
Further information is expected once the customs inspection is completed.